Our Fitness Blog

8 Tips to Help You Safely Exercise at Night

It can be difficult trying to find the time to fit everything into our day. In today's world, we usually find ourselves jumping from one task to another with no break in between. That is why some of us no matter how hard we try can seem to fit an exercise routine into our daily schedule. However, more and more of us are finding that maybe it is easier to for us if we do our exercising at night. This is a perfect way for us to fit in the required amount of physical activity each day and get all of our work done at the same time. But, if you do chose this option, you need to be aware of some of the extra precautions that you may need to take. Here are a look at some of the things that you may want to consider before you head out that door.

Always plan ahead. Just in case something may happen, you may want to tell someone the time you will be leaving and should return, map out the route you will be using and let others be aware of your route. You never know if you may have an accident and be too injured to get help or worse. So, play it safe and let people know ahead of time what your plans are.

Play it safe. Always take a cell phone with you and know if and where all the pay phones are on your route. You never know when you will need it, but it is best to have a phone or know where one is located for that one time when you do.

Have some type of identification on you. Look for a place to put your id and any medical information you may need to have on you. In case you do have an accident you need the paramedics to know who you are and any medical conditions you may have. Your id will also help them locate your family and friends.

Stay visible. It is not smart to go for a midnight run dressed in all black. Obviously, any passing cars will be unable to see you and will most likely end up hitting you. Therefore, try to wear bright colored clothes, clothes with some type of reflectors on them and carry some sort of light that people will easily see.

Leave your valuables at home. For obvious reasons, you do not want to go out at night with a lot of money on you or exercise wearing your expensive watches or jewelry. The sad truth is that if someone notices you will be expensive things, you could be easily targeted for a robbery, so keep all of those nice things at home to lessen the risk of being targeted.

Bring a friend. It is true that there is safety in numbers, but bringing a friend or two along can also help you stick with your fitness routine and get in some extra social time. This makes the buddy system an excellent idea for late night exercisers.

Stay alert. You need to be aware of your surroundings. You never know what might be out there in the dark, so keep your eyes and ears open. Leave the headphones and any other distractions at home just to be on the safe side.

Do not be afraid to call for help. You know the saying better safe than sorry. If you feel that something does not look right call the police or go to an open business and ask for help. Do not continue on your path, especially if it is in a desolate area. Trust your gut and seek out help immediately.

Exercising at night can be the perfect solution for some of us. It is much cooler and not as crowded, but we need to look out for our safety. Therefore, we need to know what to look out for and how to plan ahead. These tips are not meant to scare you or deter you from exercising at night but just keep them in mind as you find yourself walking out your door.